Developmental Milestones/Red Flags Flashcards
Good head control – raises head to
45 when prone, stabilises head when raised to sitting
position
6 wks gross motor
Sit without support, rounded back
6 months gross motor
Straight back sitting
7.5 months gross motor
Stands holding on
9 months
Walking
9-18 months (18m = red flag)
Runs
16 months
Jumps
18 months
Climbs stairs (slowly/2 feet per step)
2 years
Throws ball
2 years
Catches ball
3-4 years
Kicks ball
2.5 years
Climbs stairs like an adult
3 years
Hops on one foot
3 years
Walks downstairs like an adult
4 years
Tracks object/face
6 weeks FM/vision
Palmar grasp
5 months
Transfer hand to hand
6 months
Inferior pincer grip
9 months
Object permanence
9 months
Neat pincer grip
10-12 months
Casting bricks
12 months
Tower of 2 blocks
12 months
Tower of 3 blocks
15 months
Tower of 4 blocks
18 months
Tower of 8 blocks
2 years
Bridge or train of blocks
3 years
Tower of 12 blocks or 3 level steps
4 years
5 level steps
5 years
Puzzles with shape matching
2 years
Turn pages of a book (few at a time if paper)
2 years
Turns pages of a book (one at a time)
3 years
Scribbling
15-18 months
Copies a vertical line
2 years
Copies a circle
3 years
Copies a cross
4 years
Copies a square
4.5 years
Copies a triangle
5 years
Single cuts
3 years
Cuts pieces
3.5 years
Cuts paper in half
4 years
Griffith beads
3 years
Small beads
4 years
Stills or startles at loud noise
6 weeks
Turns head to loud sounds
6 months
Understands bye bye and no
7 months
Babbling (monosylabbic)
6 months
Responds to own name
9 months
Imitates adult sounds
9 months
Shows understanding of basic nouns (e.g. mum, dad)
12 months
Says 3 words
12 months
Points to own body parts
15 months
Points to body parts on a doll
18 months
Shows understanding of nouns (e.g. show me the x)
18 months
Shows understanding of verbs
2 years
2 word combinations (e.g. mum go)
2 years
50+ words
2 years
Shows understanding of prepositions
2.5 years
3-4 word sentences
2.5 years
Understands adjectives
3 years
Understands negatives
3 years
Understands comparatives
3.5 years
Understands complex instructions
(“Before you put x in y, give z to
Mummy”)
4 years
Uses complex narrative / sequences
to describe events.
4 years
Social smile
6 weeks
Puts objects to mouth
6 months-1 year
Shakes rattle
6 months
Reaches for food source (bottle/breast)
6 months
Holds/bites food
9 months
Stranger danger
Starts 6-9 months, stops at 2yr
Waves bye bye
12 months
Claps hands
12 months
Plays alone if familiar person nearby
12 months
Drinks from cup with beaker
12 months
Imitates everyday activities
18 months
Eats skillfully with a spoon
2.5yrs
Begins to share toys
3 yrs
Eats with fork/spoon
3 years
Bowel control
3 years
Bladder control
4 years
Plays alone without parents
3 years
Concern/sympathy for others if hurt
4 yrs
Has a best friend
4 yrs
Engages in imaginative play, observes rules
4.5-5yrs
Handles knife
5 yrs
Dresses self
4-5years
Red flag - Does not smile or squeal in response to people
6 months
Red flag - has not started to babble
6 months
Red flag - not reaching for/grasping toys
6 months
Red flag - hands frequently clenched
6 months
Red flag - not rolling
6 months
Red flag - not holding head/shoulders up when prone
6 months
Red flag - Not sharing enjoyment with others using eye contact or facial expression
9 months
Red flag - no gestures (pointing, waving, showing)
9 months
Red flag - not using 2 part babble e.g. baba, mama
9 months
red flag - Unable to hold/release toy
9 months
Red flag - can’t pass toys between hands
9 months
Red flag- not sitting without support
9 months
Red flag - not moving (creeping or crawling)
9 months
Red flag - does not take weight well on legs when suspended
9 months
Red flag - does not notice someone new
12 months
Red flag - does not play early turn taking games e.g. peekaboo
12 months
Red flag - no babbled phrases that sound like talking
12 months
Red flag - no response to familiar words
12 months
Red flag - majority of food still liquid or puree
12 months
Red flag - cannot chew solid food
12 months
Red flag - no pincer grip
12 months
Red flag - not crawling/bottom shuffling
12 months
Red flag - not pulling to stand
12 months
Red flag - not standing holding onto furniture
12 months
Red flag - lacks interest in playing/interacting with others
18 months
Red flag - no clear words
18 months
Red flag - cannot understand short request phrases e.g. where is the ball
18 months
Red flag - Not holding/scribbling w crayon
18 months
Red flag - no attempt to tower blocks
18 months
Red flag - not attempting to walk without support
18 months
Red flag - not standing alone
18 months
Red flag - When playing with toys tends to bang, drop, or throw them rather than use them for their purpose (e.g cuddle doll, build blocks)
2 years
Red flag - does not have at least 50 words
2 years
Red flag - does not put words together
2 years
Red flag - most of what is said is not understood
2 years
Red flag - no interest in self care skills e.g. feeding, dressing
2 years
Red flag - unable to run
2 years
Red flag - unable to use stairs holding on
2 years
Red flag - unable to throw a ball
2 years
Red flag - no interest in pretend play or other children
3 years
Red flag - difficulties in noticing and understanding feelings in themselves and others (e.g. happy, sad)
3 years
Red flag - speech difficult to understand
3 years
Red flag - not using simple sentences e.g. big car go
3 years
Red flag - difficulty helping with self care skills (e.g. feeding, dressing)
3 years
Red flag - difficulty manipulating small objects e.g. threading beads
3 years
Red flag - not walking up and down stairs
3 years
Red flag - not running well
3 years
Red flag - cannot kick or throw a ball
3 years
Red flag - cannot jump with 2 feet together
3 years
Red flag - cannot balance well on 1 leg
4 years
Red flag - cannot catch, throw or kick a ball
4 years
Red flag - cannot pedal a tricycle
4 years
Red flag - not toilet trained by day
4 years
Red flag - unable to draw lines or circles
4 years
Red flag - speech difficult to understand
4 years
Red flag - unable to follow 2 step directions
4 years
Red flag - unwilling/unable to play cooperatively
4 years
Red flag - play is different to their peers
5 years
Red flag - difficulty expressing emotion to a parent/telling them what’s wrong
5 years
Red flag - cannot answer questions in a simple conversation
5 years
Red flag - concerns from teacher about school readiness
5 years
Red flag - not independent with eating and dressing
5 years
Red flag - cannot draw simple pictures e.g. stick person
5 years
Red flag - awkward when running, walking or climbing stairs
5 years
Red flag - ball skills very different to their peers
5 years
Red flag - unable to hop 5 times on each foot
5 years
Follow face or large coloured object
6 weeks
Eyes converge for finger play
3 months
Follows object through 180 degrees
4 months
Reach for toy, can see small objects
5 months
Move eyes together in all directions
6 months
Age where a squint is abnormal
6 months
Pick up a raisin and play peek-a-boo
9 months
Rolls prone to supine (Vice versa slightly later)
6 months
